This Japanese Steakhouse Edamame with Flaked Salt is a restaurant-quality appetizer made at home. It’s even better than what we get at most restaurants because of my secret ingredient—toasted sesame oil. The majority of time I’ve had this appetizer at restaurants the edamame comes to …

Yes, it is possible to roast a whole spaghetti squash without cutting it in half first! Most posts I see on the internet call for cutting a spaghetti squash in half. I have a large sharp knife but I still don’t like cutting it in …

If you want to host a memorable and fun party without too much cooking, raclette is the answer. Raclette originated in Switzerland and is a type of fondue. Not the type where you dip bread in a communal pot. Instead, there is an electric table …

Do you want to know the secret to making the best baked sweet potato fries? It’s the potato. My favorite market, Jimbo’s, carries three to four kinds of sweet potatoes on a regular basis. You can see them from left to right in the picture …

Broccoli-Potato Mash Up is a delicious combination and the perfect solution for picky eaters who wouldn’t otherwise eat broccoli.

I’ve been making sauteed zucchini for years but only recently (and by accident) did I discover the ultimate secret to perfectly sauteed zucchini. Here are a few important tips for making Perfect Sauteed Zucchini: Whether keeping the zucchini sliced in half or quartered the seeds …

This is one of our favorite meals to serve to guests.  I’ve served this hearty salad after-church for a Sunday lunch as well as a weeknight dinner for guests. Actually, this is more than a mere salad. It’s a meat-and-potato salad. This is a meal …

Finally, a whole-food healthy version of nachos. These delightful bites are grain-free and dairy-free. Plus, peppers are a good source of vitamin C. Whether you want to enjoy a nutritious appetizer or introduce others to a healthier option these mini-pepper nachos are easy to make …

I love going to a produce store and seeing bins of fresh vegetables like snow peas, snap peas, mushrooms, and green beans up for grabs. You can buy as many or as little as you need, and you can hand-pick them to be uniform. It’s …

Vegetables are such an important part of our diet and most people don’t eat nearly enough. Vegetables are loaded with important vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, phytochemicals, and fiber. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable and it is especially beneficial—like medicine. Making cruciferous vegetables a regular part of …

I’m not sure where I’ve been that I have not heard of delicata squash until this year. A couple months ago a dear friend had a small birthday party for me. It was a delightful party for eight. We enjoyed appetizers and conversation outside while …

The first time I had blistered shishito peppers was at a speak-easy in Ft. Collins, Colorado called The Social. My husband and I celebrated many special occasions there: birthdays, anniversaries, and out-of-town guests. They had the best atmosphere (in the basement of a building like …

These potatoes  remind me of my childhood. Mom’s fried potatoes were one of my favorite side dishes growing up. I remember when I was old enough, Mom put me in charge of flipping the potato slices. One of the many ways she introduced me to …

There are many variations of vegetables you can grill on the barbecue. Here is a combo of vegetables that are readily available through, spring, summer, and fall. All you need is sliced vegetables, olive oil, salt, and pepper to grill a delicious side dish. Eating …

We all know that broccoli is good for us. Why exactly? It provides vitamin K, vitamin C, a variety of B vitamins, calcium, potassium, loads of amino acids, and fiber. Not to mention broccoli contains cancer-fighting antioxidants and feeds your gut microbiome.  Until recently, I’ve …

Doing a Whole30 challenge brought sweet potatoes back into my life. I shunned all potatoes, fruit, and starchy vegetables for far too long. I put them in a “bad food” category. I’m recovered from that thinking. I now know that they are good for me …

I originally posted this recipe in 2009. Since then it’s received over 30,000 views. I would love to think that I’ve helped families embrace cauliflower and not be so dependent on potatoes for every meal. Don’t get me wrong. I love potatoes and believe they …

Brussels sprouts weren’t on my radar. I don’t remember the first time I had them. I don’t remember my mom making them. My best guess is that I was at a restaurant that served them roasted. I was probably at a steak place with friends …

If you’ve been to a picnic or a church potluck then chances are you’ve seen Broccoli Salad. I often see Broccoli Salad for sale at stores in the deli section. What makes this recipe unique is bacon, dried cherries, and shelled pumpkin seeds. To the …

Whether you are enjoying the bountiful abundance of vegetables from the produce section of your grocery store, your local farmer’s market, or your own garden this is a delicious way to infuse more veggies in an otherwise traditional pasta sauce. Pasta used to be a …

We love Caesar salad in our house. We make it often. So when we got our new Weber gas grill this summer the very first thing I made was a grilled chicken Caesar salad. By “grilled” I mean grilled chicken, grilled Romaine, grilled baguette slices, …

In full disclosure this is a semi-homemade salsa because this recipe uses canned tomatoes. Someday if I run across amazing tomatoes from a farmer’s market, or if I grow my own then I’ll make a 100% homemade version. That said, this salsa tastes so fresh …

When I find myself in an abundance of zucchini I turn to this Zucchini Frittata recipe or this dairy free Tomato and Zucchini Frittata. But, one day I wanted to do something different and I did have plenty of zucchini in the fridge. After a …

Now you can make your own Oven-Roasted Green Chilies. They are fresh tasting and you can make a big batch for less money then buying them in cans. I love certain convenience foods. Don’t get me wrong. Canned soups, beans, and green chilies out of …

This is not-your-ordinary fruit salad because tomatoes, olives, and avocados are not often thought of as fruits. Technically, they are fruits. Add apples to the ingredient list and that makes four fruits in this salad. This salad is a bit like a party in your …

When I was a kid I loved when my Mom made her recipe for wax beans with buttered bread crumbs. She often served them with pork chops. As I got older, I even remember begging her to make bigger batches. I would have been happy …

I never had corn pudding before, until my husband and I had this at a friend’s house for dinner.  Our hosts served corn pudding with spiral sliced ham.  I can hardly believe that I haven’t experienced this combination before.  I’m very grateful to have received …

One of the more popular posts on this site is for a steakhouse baked potato.  It’s a recipe for a crispy-skinned Russet potato. However, there is more than one kind of potato that you can get at most steakhouses.  Let’s not forget the sweet potato! …

Now I know what the fuss is all about. I think everyone knew about kale chips except for me. Several months ago I saw an episode of Down Home with the Neely’s on Food Network. When I finally got around to making these and tasting …

Everyone loves my Mom’s potato salad—even when I make it! I have been making my mom’s potato salad for several years, mostly for large gatherings. I’ve made  it for 4th of July parties, potlucks, and even a wedding with hundreds of people. This is one …

These Easy Oven-Roasted Asparagus are crispy yet tender from end to end because part of the stalk is peeled. They are quick and easy enough to make for a week night dinner, and elegant enough to serve to guests. Sometimes you can find tender thin …

This Steakhouse Baked Potato with Salt Jacket is something that my husband taught me how to make while we were dating! I added the “salt jacket” part, and it is still the best baked potato I’ve ever tasted. It’s better than all the restaurant potatoes …

Walking through Whole Foods the other day I noticed a giant display of gorgeous Swiss chard. I bought a bunch thinking that at the very least I could wilt them in olive oil with garlic, salt and pepper. In reality, when it came time to …

Cauliflower Gratin is one of my favorite cauliflower recipes. Although my “Smashed-cauliflower Potatoes” are a close second, I have literally made this cauliflower gratin dozens of times. I love that I can have a large portion of it if I’m especially hungry. It’s a delicious …

A few weeks ago I happened to catch Food Network show with Giada. One of the dishes she made really stuck in my mind. So much so, that the next time I went grocery shopping I bought fingerling potatoes. As Giada was cooking the potato …

Using a slow cooker is very useful for making sure Thanksgiving day (or any special dinner with guests) goes smoothly.  After all, there are so many dishes to make sure we get to the table hot – why not take an opportunity to make it …

I have a handful of recipes floating around in my mind that I’ve made hundreds times that were actually given to me word of mouth. This Quick Red Wine Tomato Sauce is one of those recipes. Sure, I buy a good quality jar sauce to …

The other day I was walking through Whole Foods admiring their salad bar area (I often cruise by to get ideas) and I saw the biggest station of roasted garlic cloves that I had ever seen—hundreds of little cloves in a light amount of olive …

Friends of mine have a bountiful garden, and I’m grateful that they have shared their abundance with me. They gave me spring onions, Japanese eggplant, zucchini, carrots, turnips and basil. Also, my neighbor gave me some yellow squash. So, almost everything in this salad is …

While I was grocery shopping in the produce section, I noticed that the pico de gallo was $3.99 for an 8 oz tub. Now, it is not beyond me to pay for something chopped up and ready made once in a while for a quick …

Tired of the same old side dish vegetables? This is good enough to turn into a meal by adding some protein. I was doing some shopping in my new favorite health-food market Jimbos, and in the vegetable section they had about a pound of asparagus, …

You have heard of wilted spinach, right?  Well, here is another version of a wilted green, and it is oh so good for us.  According to Wikipedia “Kale is considered to be a highly nutritious vegetable with powerful antioxidant properties and is anti-inflammatory.  Kale is …